Many authors advise against reading reviews of your own work.  I can see where it could be difficult to read tactless criticism, however, I just can’t resist finding out how people are reacting to my story and the anthology as a whole.

I’m pleased to say that it is getting good reviews!  And the lovely thing about an anthology is that usually people are bound to find something within the covers that they like and, hopefully, something that they love.  And with this anthology, it is not difficult.

I’m particularly thrilled to see that the reviews that mention my story specifically have been positive.  It’s so exciting!  The thought that there are so many readers out there reading and liking my story is just an amazing feeling.  Before this point, the only “reviews” I got were from my crit partners.

Thanks to the magic of Google, I’m able to collect them all in one place…

 It was so clever and beautifully written!”  Jane Odiwe, popular Austeneque Author

Some of the stories I liked best were by authors new to me. … Brenna Aubrey’s prize-winning story “The Love Letter” is a lovely account of how Wentworth’s written declaration of his love for Anne Elliot in Persuasion leads a young doctor back to the great love from his past.” – Just Janga

 Here are the highlights or rather my thoughts of some of my favorite short stories from JAMMDI… The Love Letter by Brenna Aubrey (grand prize winner of JAMMDI short story contest) This was a great read! I loved how the present characters’ relationship mirrored the Jane Austen’s Persuasion characters’ Captain Wentworth and Anne Elliot. Definitely a deserving grand prize winner as I really loved and enjoyed reading it and the title of this novel was mentioned too!”  ~ Pride & Prejudice 2005 blog book review

Brenna Aubrey won a contest hosted by the Republic of Pemberley website with this story, the prize being inclusion in this collection. Honestly, I think it’s the collection that won, and Ms. Aubrey did it a favor by contributing this – it was beautiful.”  Stewartry Book Reviews

The Love Letter is a contemporary but also very nicely written and with a perfect last sentence!” – Ana at Historical Tapestry

I wanted to specifically comment on Brenna Aubrey’s story The Love Letter. Brenna was the winner of a short story contest that was held to choose one story to put into the anthology. I was very impressed with it, and thought it held up pretty well in comparison to the other stories in the collection.” – Marg at Historical Tapestry

Some of the stories aren’t so easy to put in a box,which is to their benefit. … “The Love Letter” by JAMMDI contest winner Brenna Aubrey that has a medical student reconsider a lost love due to receiving a page torn out of a certain Austen novel mysteriously in the mail.” –Living Read Girl

I was genuinely moved by “The Love Letter,” winner of a contest to be included in this book by currently unpublished author Brenna Aubrey, in which Persuasion influences a young doctor to try again with his own lost love. ”  –Goodreads

Some of the riveting stories (and my favorites) are: 1) “The Love Letter” by Brenna Aubrey ” –Goodreads

I found Aubrey’s Persuasion inspired contemporary story, written from a male doctor’s point of view, quite lovely. That contest certainly discovered a talented writer.”  ~ Christina Boyd, reviewer for Austenprose

And I was especially impressed with Brenna Aubrey’s story, “The Love Letter.” Aubrey won the online story contest hosted by the Republic of Pemberley, of which the grand prize was having her original story included in this collection. “The Love Letter” is aheartwarming, bittersweet and hopeful look at first loves, love lost and the unexpected opportunity for a second chance. Inspired by Persuasion, Aubrey does a tremendous job at recapturing the feel of Anne and Wentworth and I found I really liked the twist of having a man as her main character.” — Librarian Next Door

I can see why this story won the Jane Austen Made Me Do It short story contest. It was another one of my favorites. Dr. Mark Hinton receives a mysterious page from a book in the mail, and discovers it is from Austen’s novel Persuasion. He learns more about the novel and also meets his old love Justine again.” –Laura’s reviews

NOTABLE FAVORITES: …The Love Letter by Brenna Aubrey: The winner of the JAMMDI contest and a well deserved winner at that. She writes a modern twist on Persuasion, which is wonderfully executed and exhibites the same tense emotion of the original work which inspired it.” –For the Love of Austen blog

The Love Letter by Brenna Aubrey, the winner of the Jane Austen Made Me Do It short story contest, is a beautiful retelling of  Persuasion.  –Diary of an Eccentric

Knowing this short story was from the Jane Austen Made Me Do Itcontest winner, I was skeptical that it would be a memorable one.  Much to my delight, new author Brenna Aubrey has written a delightful piece, drawing heavily from themes found in her favorite Austen novel, Persuasion.  “The Love Letter” was well done, and had me fully engaged, even up to the last moments.  Of the short stories inJane Austen Made Me Do It that are set in contemporary times, this one is my favorite by far.  I’m thrilled to read that Aubrey is working on a full-length novel.  –Calico Critic

I 100% agree with the winner of the short story contest, “The Love Letter” by Brenna Aubrey; its modern equivalent for Persuasion had me cheering on love that can endure.  –Goodreads

The winner of the story contest was one of my favorites. It is a modern version of “Persuasion” and definitely not to be missed. I hope the writer continues writing. I thoroughly enjoyed the story!!! –Goodreads

As a brand-new author myself, I was most anxious to read Brenna Aubrey’s “The Love Letter.” As you may know, Brenna won a contest last year to be included in this volume. This is her first publication credit, and I have to say, it was an excellent way to begin her career. “The Love Letter” is a fresh, modern take on Persuasion which I absolutely loved, and I cannot wait to read her next work–perhaps a longer piece of fiction?   –Nancy Kelley, Austenesque Author of His Good Opinion

This is the story that won the contest for inclusion, and it’s simply beautiful. A good example of how Jane Austen can still play key roles in ‘modern’ lives (and romances). from “A Word’s Worth” book review

 “…si on avait droit à une seconde chance, dans la vie ? The Love letter, la nouvelle qui a été élue grande gagnante de cette anthologie, est très très belle aussi… elle remet en scène une histoire moderne avec un twist à la Persuasion comme vous n’en avez jamais vu…”  from “In Books We Trust” review blog.

Bren’s translation: “If you had the opportunity for a second chance in life?  “The Love Letter,” the short story grand prize winner (of the contest) is very very beautiful, too.  It recounts a story that is a modern twist on Persuasion that you’ve never before seen.”

 

“The Love Letter” by Brenna Aubrey is an enthralling tale of Dr. Mark Hinton who receives an anonymous note–a page torn fromPersuasion. Inspired to understand the meaning of this letter, Hinton reads the novel, seeing himself as Captain Wentworth and, in the role of Anne, his lost love, Justine. It is left to be seen what he gleans from the novel and how it will change his life.– Curled up with a Book Book Reviews

 

Psst, just our little secret… these are going into my “You don’t suck” file.

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